Chapter 21 - I Hate Thunderstorms

Sorry it's been so long, I wanted to update this sooner but real life is crazy right now and there probably won't be another update for a while. Sorry.

Daryl awoke to the smell of lavender and cucumbers. He groaned and kept his eyes closed as he tried to figure out where he was. He was in Merle's bed with Carol, she was that lovely smell. He opened his eyes and looked at her, she was still sleeping.

A few minutes later Carol shifted in her sleep, mumbling something softly as her body moved closer to his. He looked down at her, interest coming to mind.

Carol's eyes fluttered open, only waking for a second before closing and drifting back to sleep again. Daryl tilted his head, hovering over her as he waited to see what she would say.

"Daryl." Carol mumbled.

Daryl narrowed his eyes, trying to figure out if she was still asleep.

Finally Carol opened her eyes properly looking straight up into his as he was leaning over her, "Heyyy."

Daryl didn't move from where he was, "Yer interestin' when ya sleep."

"I am?" Carol asked sleepily.

"Mmhmm."

"Why?"

Daryl shrugged, "Ya just are."

Carol smirked, "Never knew I was so interesting while dead to the world."

"And vulnerable..ya wouldn' know if someone was kidnappin' ya.." Daryl only realized how perverted that must've sounded after he started talking so he added a reason.

Carol raised her eyebrows at him, a teasing glint in her eyes, "Planning on kidnapping me?"

"I think I already have."

"Umm is that right?"

Daryl nodded, "Yer in my house, therefore I kidnapped ya."

"Yes but I came willingly."

Daryl moved so he was fully above her, trapping her beneath him, "Tell me the parts ya left out about the night I was on morphine."

Carol shook her head, "I told you everything."

"Tell me somethin'."

"Tell you what?"

Daryl shrugged, still above her, "Anythin'."

Carol pushed gently against his chest but he wasn't relenting, "Give me a clue."

"Anythin'."

"Hmmm, you get horny when you're high."

Daryl chuckled, "Can't blame me."

Carol smirked, "Why not?"

"Haven' been laid in forever."

Carol laughed, "How long?"

"'Bout a year."

"Do you mind me asking why?"

"Why what?"

"Why it's been a year."

Daryl shrugged, "Haven' been with anyone."

"Yeah but why not?"

"Haven' got time to meet anyone."

"Been busy the past year then?"

Daryl shook his head, "Nope."

"Now I'm confused. You said you were too busy to meet women but now you're saying you weren't."

Daryl sighed, "It's difficult."

"Tell me."

"I ain't like normal guys. I got scars and fears..things ya wouldn' wanna know 'bout. Hell, 'm scared of thunderstorms."

Carol nodded, "I hate thunderstorms too, that's normal."

"The reason 'm afraid of 'em is horrible."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Ya'll run away."

"I won't."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

Daryl sighed, "My mom had this special place, it was a attachment to the closet. A small little compartment..."

Carol nodded, her hands running up his arms to comfort him.

"She'd whip me to get me tired and weak and then she'd...touch me...she'd throw me in the place afterwards, naked and bloody, and keep me there for a few days. No food, no water, and nothin' to stay warm with. The thing was...she always did this before a thunderstorm 'cause she wanted me in there durin' one."

As soon as Carol saw the first sight of tears in his eyes she pulled him down on the bed so he was lying next to her instead of hovering over her, which he did willingly enough. Then she moved so she was leaning over him with her fingers softly brushing the hair out of his face and wiping his tears, her other arm wrapped around him tight to hold him close to her.

Daryl looked away, covering his face, "Ya should go..'m just trash anyways. No good to ya or Sophia...ya'd be better stayin' with someone else."

"No I wouldn't." Carol whispered, still hovering over him to wipe his tears and hold him pressing against her with his head now on her chest.

Daryl wrapped his arms around her, taking comfort in her soft words.

"It's OK now. She can't hurt you anymore."

"She ruined my life..."

"I know...but it's over now...it's better now." She whispered soothingly.

"How?"

"Because I won't let her hurt you or ruin you..."

Daryl sighed into the crook of her neck, "Why do ya stay?"

"Because I care"

"But why?"

"I just do."

Daryl sighed again, "Ya wouldn' if ya knew everythin'."

"Try me."

Daryl nodded, thinking something up, "I'll tell ya a new thing every night."

Carol nodded back, "OK."

Daryl didn't pull away from her, "As long as ya share somethin' 'bout yerself every night too. So I get to know ya and ya get to know me. Deal?"

She smiled softly, keeping up with her soft caresses of his cheeks, "Deal."

Daryl sighed, closing his eyes, "Carol."

"Yes?" Carol asked.

Daryl suddenly backed out of what he was going to say, being so shy and self conscious and knowing she didn't feel the same. Fear struck him so he just opened his eyes, pinning up the fear, "Nothin'."

Carol frowned, worried at the way his face had changed so fast, "Are you sure? Do you want to talk about it?"

Daryl shook his head, he knew he had to keep this from her. He couldn't tell her his feelings, she would freak for sure. He sighed, "Nah, 'm good."

Carol nodded, watching her hand as it ran over his arm, "Okay. If you're sure."

"Ya wouldn' wanna know."

"Try me."

Daryl shook his head, "I can't...ya wouldn' like it."

"How do you know I wouldn't?"

"'Cause ya wouldn'."

Carol shrugged, still looking over at him, "Try me."

"No, I can't."

"Please?"

Daryl frowned, "Ya wouldn' like it."

"I might."

"It'd be awkward."

"Why would it be so awkward? Does it have to be?"

Daryl nodded, "It will be."

"Hmmm maybe you should tell me anyway, just in case."

"I can't...ya'd disagree."

"If you really don't want to talk I won't push it any further."

Daryl nodded, "Maybe some other day."

Carol smiled, "Yeah."

"It ain't that important anyways...just random thoughts, I guess."

"Seemed pretty important."

Daryl looked around, fidgeting with his shirt, "It ain't..."

Carol nodded, "Okay."

Daryl sighed, "Gonna start work 'gain the day after 'morrow...can't afford to miss anymore days, 'ey?"

"I will but I don't know if you should with your leg."

Daryl shrugged, "I can walk on it, don' need no dumb cast no more. Should be fine as long as I don' hit it into anythin'."

"You still need to be careful and not over do it. Still use the crutches."

Daryl groaned like a child, pouting, "I don' want to use crutches!"

"Well you have to."

"Why!"

"Because it's for your own good!"

Daryl huffed, arms crossing, "'M fine though."

"Only because you are using them."

"No!"

"Yes!"

Daryl scoffed, "I'll be fine."

"If you use them."

Daryl shook his head, "Na uh."

Carol nodded, "Yep."

"No."

"I'm not going to argue anymore."

"I win."

"No that doesn't mean you win."

Daryl nodded, "Yes, I do."

"Noooo I just don't want to argue."

"I ain't gonna use the crutches."

"Then your going to hurt yourself and end back up in the hospital."

Daryl shook his head, "I'll be careful."

"I'll be watching you."

Daryl grinned, playing around with her, "Look where?"

Carol smirked, "Everywhere."

Daryl raised his eyebrows, "My ass?"

"Maybe...if you want me too."

"What if I do?"

Carol laughed, "Then I will."

"Why's that funny?"

"It just made me laugh, I don't really know why. It just did."

Daryl thought for a moment, "Am I allowed to stare at yers? To make it fair."

Carol laughed again, "If you really want to then I guess I wouldn't mind it so much."

"Not like I haven' done it before. It's a instinct."

"So you stare at my ass a lot then?"

"Maybe I do."

"You do or you don't?"

"I do."

Carol raised her eyebrows, "Why?"

"I don' do it all the time but sometimes...it just a instinct."

Carol nodded, "Ok..."

"Any man will do it."

"Yeah but you're not just any man."

Daryl looked at her, "What am I?"

Carol shrugged, "Your...Daryl. You're not the same as the other men because your Daryl, not just some guy."

"But why?"

"I don't know, it's just different isn't it?"

Daryl thought for a moment, "'Cause 'm scarred?"

Carol shook her head, "No. Because I care about you a hell of a lot more than I do a stranger."

"But why? I don' understand how I could be different."

"Maybe because you helped me when no one else gave a damn."

Daryl still didn't understand, "Others would've helped if-," He was cut off by Sophia entered the room, thumb in mouth.

Carol sat up smiling at her, "Hey sweetie."

Sophia walked further into the room watching them with her thumb still in her mouth for a minute before taking it out to talk, "Why you in here?"

Daryl stretched, speaking first in a teasing tone, "'Cause someone hogged the bed."

Sophia huffed, climbing up onto the bed, "Did not! Momma I didn't, tell Daddy."

Carol laughed, trying to hold back but failing, "She says she didn't hog the bed Daddy."

Daryl chuckled, "Yer Momma hogged this bed, almost pushed me off."

Sophia giggled, "Really?"

"Yep, she greedy..kept kicking my ass and tryin' to stretch out. She kept kneein' my back."

"I did not!" Carol protested.

Daryl chuckled, "I got the bruises to prove it."

Carol shook her head, "Liar."

"I ain't lyin'!"

"I didn't kick you."

Daryl nodded, "Yes, ya did. Ya wouldn' know 'cause ya was asleep."

Carol tilted her head, "I don't normally move much in my sleep."

"Ya do when 'm 'round."

Carol sighed, "Sorry."

"Do ya dream?"

Carol nodded, "Sometimes."

Daryl nodded, "Good dreams?"

Carol sighed, "Not always."

"Do ya sleep well?...the majority of the time?"

"Mostly, only don't every once in a while."

Daryl nodded, thinking of something, "Do ya want me to wake ya up when ya have bad dreams?"

Carol looked up at him, "Do I wake you up when I do?"

"'M usually already awake."

Carol nodded, "Good. I wouldn't want to wake you."

"But do ya want me to?"

"Yes so I don't give you bruises anymore."

Daryl shrugged, "I don' care 'bout bein' kicked, I just don' want ya to have to have bad dreams."

"Let's aim for neither then."

"Yes ma'am."

Carol chuckled and rolled her eyes, "Well done Sir."

Daryl rolled his eyes right back at her, "Mmhmm."

Sophia giggled, "You two is sooooo silly."

"I think we's more of children than Sophia is."

Carol shrugged, "Maybe we are but I don't think that's such a bad thing. Do you?"

"Nope."

"Good then it's perfectly fine."

"Yep."

Sophia grinned, "Can we go have breakfast now, together?"

Daryl nodded, stretching, "Sounds good to me."

"Momma can we have pancakes?" Sophia asked giving her the puppy dog face.

Carol nodded, "Sure but only if everyone else wants them."

Daryl nodded, grinning softly, "I got whip cream."

Carol grinned back, "Making me hungry already."

"Mmhmmm."

Carol stood up out of bed, "I'll go get started on the pancakes, I guess then."

Daryl nodded, "'M gonna see what Merle is doin'..probably ain't awake yet."

Sophia smiled, "Can I come with you?"

"Sure kiddo."

Sophia grinned, "Yay!"

Daryl grinned, "Second thought...Carol, where's the whip cream?"

Carol raised her eyebrows, "The fridge I think, why?"

"I got plans."

Carol narrowed her eyes, "What are you up to?"

"Somethin' that will get my ass kicked."

Carol nodded, "Figured as much but be careful."

"Never am."

"I know that too but please."

Daryl nodded, watching her, "I will..anyways, 'm a faster runner than Merle."

"Not on that leg!"

Daryl groaned, "Yes MOM!"

"Shut up!"

Daryl made way for the door, in search of the whip cream. Carol followed down the stairs heading to start on a breakfast of pancakes and hopefully some whipped cream if she could save any from him.

Daryl found the bottle and shook it, grinning, "Come on Soph, we got somethin' to do."

Sophia giggled following behind him, "'Kay."

Daryl found Merle in the living room and popped the cap on the whipped cream. He put some on Merle's face then on his hand that was extended on the coffee table. He gave the bottle to Sophia then yelled at Merle, "MERLE! WAKE UP! SOMEONE DIED!"

Sophia saw what he was trying to do when he gave her the whip cream and ran into the other room to hide, not wanting Uncle Merle to think she did it.

Daryl jumped when Merle jumped awake and quickly hurried back to the kitchen, hiding behind Carol.

Carol watched as Sophia hide in the empty cupboard of the kitchen and Daryl basically used her as a human shield, "Hey. I'm not protecting you from this one."

Daryl put his finger to his lips, "Shhh."

Carol rolled her eyes, whispering, "I'm trying to make pancakes here geeezzz."

"SHHHHHHH."

Carol groaned, she was actually living with a bunch of children.

Daryl heard angry grumbling in the other room and tried to act like he didn't do anything.

"He's gonna know." Carol muttered.

"Sophia got the whip cream."

"You're really going to blame this on her?"

"Nope."

"Then who?"

Daryl shrugged, "I never think ahead, I go with the flow."

Carol rolled her eyes, "Well that's a bit silly don't ya think?"

"It's stupid but 'm never smart."

"You are sometimes just not right now."

Daryl chuckled, "Maybe once a year."

Carol laughed, "A little more than that."

"Two times a year?"

"Maybe at least once a day."

"Impossible."

"Is not."

Daryl nodded, "Where'd Merle go?"

Carol looked around the corner of the door, "I don't know."

"Weird."

Carol nodded and moved back over to the counter to make pancakes leaving him with no human shield. He followed her, watching her do her thing.

"What do you want on your pancakes now that you wasted the whip cream?" Carol asked.

"Peaches."

Carol hummed, "Peach cobbler ice cream or just peaches?"

"Peach cobbler ice cream."

Carol nodded, "Sounds good. I think I might have that too."

"I want chocolate!" Sophia called from where she was still hiding from Merle.

"Gross."

"Not!"

"Mmhmm."

Sophia popped her head out of the cupboard looking around for a minute before half coming out, "Is it safe to come out? Where'd uncle Merle go?"

"Who knows where he went. Probably back to sleep."

Sophia cautiously came out leaving the whip cream can on the side far away from her, "Phew!"

Daryl chuckled, leaning against the counter.

Carol handed them each a plate of pancakes while she fixed her own, "Should I make a plate for Merle?"

"Yeah, I'll go find him."

Carol started to set a plate of plain pancakes for Merle and left them in his place at the table.

Daryl went back into the living room, "Merle? Where'd ya go?"

Merle walked down the stairs wiping his face off on a towel and threw it at Daryl's face as he walked through to the kitchen.

Daryl huffed, calling after him, "Asshole."

"Says ya putting shit on me when I sleeping."

Daryl chuckled, "What kinda shit?"

"Foamy fuckin' shit."

"Yummy foamy shit."

Merle huffed, "Fuck you."

"No, thank ya."

"Ass."

Daryl chuckled, "Smartass."

"Dumbass."

"True."

"Very!"

Daryl sat down at his spot, "Next time, don' throw yer dirty, whip-cream covered towel at me."

"Wouldn't have no dirty ass towel if ya didn't put cream on me."

"Asshole."

"Dick."

Daryl huffed and was about to say something way out of range when Carol glared at him, telling him to shut up with her eyes as Sophia's ears witnessed the nasty words they spoke.

Sophia looked up at Merle with her brows furrowed, "You say so many bad words Uncle Merle, too many."

Daryl chuckled, watching as Sophia put her hands on her hips and stared Merle down.

"You should stop saying bad words."

Merle huffed, "Not my fault."

"Yes it is. You should not say bad words!"

"It how I grew up, I can't change that..."

Daryl watched him, "Merle, don'."

Sophia nodded, "You can change it."

Merle nodded, "It hard to."

"It hard but ya gotta try."

Merle looked at his plate, quiet for a while, "Old habits are hard to break..I guess I could try."

Sophia nodded, "Yep. You can try and try again until you do it right."

"Ok."

Sophia grinned, "Good."

Merle sighed, "But if it slips out then don' blame me for it."

Sophia nodded, "I won't."

"Alright then."

Sophia grinned, "Yummy pancakes."

Daryl sighed softly to himself as he ate, watching Merle at points and wondering how he became so soft and gentle.

"What we doin' today then?"

Daryl shrugged, "It Sunday, what do ya wanna do on a Sunday?"

Merle shrugged back, "Hell if I know."

"Exactly."

"Normally jus' get drunk and watch TV."

Daryl just shook his head, looking back down at his food.

"Ummm not today though huh?"

"Nope."

"Buzz kill."

Daryl shrugged, "What else?"

"I dunno."

"Me either."

"Then I guess we do nothin'."

Daryl huffed, "I hate doin' nothin'."

All three of them spoke in unison, "I know."

Daryl put his bowl in the sink and cleaned it before putting it away to dry. He stretched and walked into the living room, looking for something to do. That's when he saw the car parked outside the house, a familiar car.